Meineke Car Care Center

1826 S Stoughton Rd, Madison, WI 53716, USA

Address:	1826 S Stoughton Rd, Madison, WI 53716, USA
Phone:	+1 608-467-1442
Site:	meineke.com
Rating:	3
Working:	7:30AM–6PM 7:30AM–6PM 7:30AM–6PM 7:30AM–6PM 7:30AM–6PM 7:30AM–4PM Closed

Location

Photos 13

Reviews 4

Dunno Jack

**UPDATE** About a week and a half after posting this review, I received a phone call from the store manager. If I remember right, his name was Len or Lon. He was very concerned about my bad experience. Because I had since fixed the issues with my radiator myself, there was no real way for him to make good on the situation, but he did offer to personally take care of me if I ever stopped in again, and offered me a free oil change. He also was very candid with me about how he has been working on an ongoing customer service problem at this particular location. I very much appreciated his call. It shows that they are trying to improve their service, and are concerned about their customers. (End update) Quote - "Quality workmanship, a friendly professional staff and quality parts are why our customers rely on Meineke...." Quality workmanship - NOPE! Friendly professional staff - NOPE! Quality parts - NOPE! I had a radiator go out on my vehicle a year and a half ago, on a Sunday, near the Stoughton Rd. Meineke. Nobody else was open, so I reluctantly took the vehicle there to get emergency repaired. One week later, I was back, because the radiator they sold me was leaking coolant. Turns out they sold me a leaky radiator. (Quality parts?) It also turns out they put green (ethylene glycol) coolant in instead of pink (propylene glycol with HOAT additive). It has been well documented that running the green stuff in an engine that requires HOAT coolant will eventually destroy the coolant pump (Quality workmanship?) They replaced the radiator on warranty. It started very slowly leaking coolant soon after replacement (a drop or so a week), because they used the wrong size hoses (Quality parts/workmanship?) They never admitted to using the wrong size hoses (Professional staff?). Also, in order to swap the radiator, they needed to remove the AC condenser (another small radiator for the air conditioning system). When they reinstalled it, they didnt charge the AC system up to the correct pressure, so my air conditioning didnt work well enough on hot days! (Quality workmanship??) On the day of a cross country trip, my second replacement radiator finally decided to quit, and it leaked about a gallon of coolant over the next two weeks. I took it back to Meineke, and they told me that my engine mounts were bad, which caused the radiator to see too much stress, which caused it to crack again. They told me over the phone that they would warranty the radiator, but first they wanted me to replace the engine mounts. They quoted me upwards of a thousand for an item that costs around a hundred, and they quoted me 3 hours labor. Some expensive labor!!(Professional staff??) They also told me that they would waive the diagnostic fee. I went to pick up the vehicle, and they tried to charge me the diagnostic fee (Professional staff??!). When I protested, they waived it, but told me that they would NOT warranty the radiator. When I reminded them that they had promised to warranty the part, I was told by one employee "well, its out of warranty", after which he turned on his heel and left (friendly staff?). The other cashier kept insisting that he doesnt know anything, I would guess to excuse himself from the situation? Ill just end up doing the work myself. So I say again. Quality workmanship - NOPE! Friendly professional staff - NOPE! Quality parts - NOPE! Dont waste your time and money at this location!

Anonymous User

So one day I went here with one of my friends who needed a new muffler installed (we got the muffler off the internet). All went good and we got it installed, but it only took them the WHOLE day, even when we told them that we needed it done that morning, they didnt even start on the car until the afternoon. But we realized they were busy and let it be. A week later, my brother and I brought in my car to get a muffler installed that we got from farm and fleet down the street. The guy at the desk (overweight anti-social guy, watch out for him) said "we dont install parts from other brands/stores." I brought up the scenario from the week before where my friend and I came in with a muffler from another store and he said that we made it up. Well, we showed him the reciept, and with a dumbfounded look said "please leave the store." Wow, worst service Ive ever had, and just to add, their service is a scam, If you want one part installed, theyll try getting you to get more stuff done that you dont need. The exhaust and parts they sell there also, are really bad quality (I have a friend whos a mechanic), and the parts go out within a year so they drag you back in to buy more. Dont do business here, if your in the area by meineke, get your work done at farm and fleet, waynes automotive (on cottage grove road), or monona motors in monona, they have the best service in the area hands down.

Laura Flanagan

Horrible! First of all, I went in just for an oil change. While I do know that I needed new tires, I was railroaded into a full set. Prepared only to get my oil changed, I sat for THREE hours waiting for new tires. That would all have been tolerable had I not met the service guy at the bay doors to see dusty looking new tires on my car. When questioned why the tires were dusty, the young service guy stuttered nervously and said, ummm ... I took them off the rack and rolled them across the floor. I might be a lot of things - stupid is not one. I am a scientist and trained to be observant. Not having the time to argue - as it was I had to cancel a morning meeting not expecting to be held up for 3 hours - I left disappointed. Thats not even the end. I told a friend about my experience and he said, well, at least you got your oil changed ... Im glad because I forgot to tell you on Monday when you left I noticed your left front headlight was burned out. Guess what? It is still burned out! They missed that on their 23 point inspection which is supposed to be part of the oil change.

Anonymous User

I have called this location on stoughton rd many times, only once has the person on the other end been nice to me, everyone is a crab. I stopped in one day on my way to work and asked how much an alignment would be and also how you can tell if you need one... MOST places would say, oh let me check the tread on your tires, thats one way, or maybe ask a questions about how the car is driving but nope, he just said, wed have to look at it...in a rude irritated voice...didnt set up an apt (obviously) THEN I call to ask how much it would be for a tranny flush .. "89.99 for the flush but your car HAS TO HAVE this special fluid thats 29.99" I thought that was really weird so checked 3 other places they said that I DONT need it... so then i called a different meineke location and they said NO you do NOT HAVE to have this fluid, they try to rip you off every chance they get. Ive never been the type to write bad reviews, only good ones, but enough is enough. I hope noone else gets treated as crappy as I have.